India determined to add ICC Women's World Cup to its collection

Goswami believes the event will be the toughest yet as every side will arrive in Sydney well Captain says she will not hesitate to contact Mahendra Singh Dhoni if guidance required Delighted that ESPN STAR Sports will broadcast matches from North Sydney Oval
India aims to do one better this time as the country excitedly looks forward to next month’s ICC Women’s World Cup 2009 which will be the first to be played under the auspices of the ICC since its merger with the International Women’s Cricket Council (IWCC) in 2005.

India was a losing finalist to Australia in the previous event in South Africa in 2005 while in 1997 in India, it again lost to Australia by 19 runs in a rain-reduced 32-over-a-side semi-final. In between, when the tournament was staged in New Zealand in 2000, India failed to qualify for the final by just two points.

But India captain Jhulan Goswami believes her side has prepared better than ever before for the ninth World Cup which will also be participated by holders Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Pakistan in Sydney and Canberra from 7 to 22 March.

“We had a strenuous training camp in Bangalore in January before all the players went to represent their states and institutions in the two-day knock-out tournament in Baroda from 1 to 15 February. Our final training camp will start in Mumbai from 20 February,” said Goswami who was ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year in 2007.

“Prior to our preparations at home, we had tough tours to England and Australia last year and though both the tours ended in disappointment, they gave us an excellent opportunity to strengthen our strong areas and fix our weak links.

“In terms of World Cup preparations, both series provided us with the chance to evaluate where we stood with ample time to find a way to lift our standard. Such series on the eve of the World Cup might not have been productive as they could have shattered our confidence or left us with no time to rectify the problems.

“By playing three months prior to the main event, we have given ourselves a very good chance to put ourselves back in track. Needless to say it was also a good wake-up call for us,” she said.

England defeated India 4-0 in a five-match series (the last ODI was abandoned due to rain) in September while in November Australia made a clean sweep of the five-match series to leave India with five wins and nine defeats in 2008.

Goswami, who is ranked third in the Reliance Mobile ICC Women’s ODI Player Rankings for bowlers, said her side was a mixture of youth and experience and was not short of any motivation or confidence. “We have players like Anjum Chopra and Mithali Raj who will be playing in their fourth and third World Cups respectively.

“They have loads of experience which will guide the youngsters, including the three new players who could make be making their ODIs debuts in Australia, and help them learn how to handle the World Cup pressure.

“The players are charged up and anxiously waiting for the event to begin as it is the biggest achievement for any sportsperson to represent his or her country in a World Cup. This event is more special and a prized one because it is being staged by the premier body which automatically increases its importance and profile.

“The team is also wary of the fact that India has already won every single cricket tournament except the Women’s World Cup and by winning the Australia tournament, we could complete the trophies cabinet in the BCCI headquarters,” Goswami said.

India won the ICC Cricket World Cup in England in 1983, shared the ICC Champions Trophy with Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka in 2002, claimed the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup honours in 2000 and 2008 and Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s side lifted the ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa in 2007.

Goswami has played 93 ODIs and if India qualifies for the final, her 100th ODI will be the final to be played on 22 March at the North Sydney Oval. “Playing 100 ODIs will be a perfect icing on the cake after I won the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year award in 2007 and became India captain in last October.

“But I would like to focus on the tournament as winning the World Cup will bring huge honour to the country while completing century of ODIs will only be a personal landmark.

“This World Cup will be the toughest yet as every team will come very well prepared. I think every team will arrive in Australia hoping it has a chance to win, also because the World Cup tends to bring the best out of the players and the teams.

“We will respect every team and try to play consistently well. We have to avoid being complacent and stay focused and keep working hard.”

India has won the Women’s Asia Cup four times and has an unbeaten record against Sri Lanka and Pakistan who are both in Pool A with India and England. But Goswami said she would avoid making sweeping statements against the Asian rivals.

“I agree we enjoy a good record against Pakistan and Sri Lanka which are relatively young at this stage but we must not forget that both the teams will be playing in the World Cup which is a completely different tournament. And history shows what can happen in World Cups.

“Nevertheless, I would like to see my side go into the Super Six stage with maximum carry-over points and then continue that winning habit in the Super Six stage. But all this demands commitment and hard work which my talented side is ready to put in.”

Goswami said she was happy to know her team was being considered as one of the favourites alongside holders Australia, England and New Zealand. “It is pleasing to know that we are being taken seriously by the pundits. This also means that the experts and the opponents are wary of our capability.

“I believe we have a good chance, better than before to win the trophy but for that we will have need to consistently well play and not only play well but to try to raise standard with every match.”

Goswami said she would not hesitate to pick up the phone to call India men’s team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni who will be captaining his side against New Zealand in New Zealand. “If I need any guidance and advice, I will not hesitate to call Dhoni and I am sure he would reciprocate.

“I will not only get a priceless suggestion from Dhoni but his pep-talk with the players can do magic and further lift the spirits of the players.

“While saying this, I am glad that I have players like Anjum Chopra and Mithali Raj on whom I can rely for suggestions and advice.”

Goswami was also excited by the news that ICC’s broadcast partner ESPN STAR Sports will broadcast all seven matches that will take place at North Sydney Oval, including the final. This will ensure that the event will be the most widely viewed to date, with the coverage to be aired in more than 100 countries.

“This is great news because we missed television coverage in South Africa in 2005. No television coverage meant very few knew in India that we had reached the final.

“Besides, live coverage of the tournament will increase the profile of the tournament, will also help women’s cricket go to every corner of the country and promote the sport.”

India, which opens its World Cup campaign against traditional rivals Pakistan on 7 March at Bradman Oval, plays England at the North Sydney Oval on Tuesday 10 March in a first round match. If all goes according to the seeding, India’s Super Six stage matches at the NSO will be against Australia on Saturday 14 March and against New Zealand on Tuesday 17 March.

In the lead-up to the World Cup, India has two warm up matches – against South Africa on Tuesday 3 March at Raby 1 and against on New Zealand the following day at Old Kings.

India squad – Jhulan Goswami (captain), Amita Sharma (vice-captain), Anagha Deshpande, Anjum Chopra, Gouher Sultana, Harpreet Kaur, MD Thirushkamini, Mithali Raj, Poonam Raut, Priyanka Roy, Reema Malhotra, Rumeli Dhar, Snehal Pradhan, Sravanthi Krishnamurthy, Sulakshana Naik.

The event logo and more details on ICC Women’s World Cup 2009 can be found at: www.iccevents.yahoo.com